Traditional Ambrosian Rite

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		The Metropolitan Cathedral of Milan, better known as "Duomo"
		The following images are taken from two Masses in Milan: The first is a Mass in honour of Bl. Ildefonse Schuster which was celebrated inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Milan, at the second most important altar of the Church, called "Altar of Our Lady of the Tree" ("Altare della Madonna dell'Albero"), being this "Tree" the huge candelabrum you can see in the photos just in front of the altar. Inside the Altar is buried one of the greatest Saint Bishops of Milan, St. Galdinus described by the Roman Martirology with these simple but touching words: (April 18th) "Mediolani, sancti Galdini, Cardinalis et ejusdem civitatis Episcopi, qui, concione adversus hæreticos expleta, spiritum Deo reddidit", "At Milan, (memory) of St. Galdinus, Cardinal and bishop of the same city, who, as he had ended a sermon against the heretics, gave up the ghost to God". The Altar of the "Madonna dell'Albero" has also a great importance for the history of Catholicism not only in Milan, but all over the world. In fact, the very well-known pious practice of the "Quarant'ore" begun just in front of this altar around the middle of the XVIth century. In 1535 the last Duke of Milan, Francis II Sforza died, and the Milanese decided to give back the crown of Milan to the Sacred Roman Emperor, who, at that time, was Charles V. A long, horrible pestilence had finished only a few years earlier, and the city was confident to find eventually peace in the fatherly hands of her Emperor and Duke. However, the King of France, Francis I, thinking to be the rightfur heir of the Duchy, after severe threats, sent a huge army chiefed by the Dauphin Henry to lay wast the whole Duchy and most of all Milan as a rebel city. 1537 Lenten Season was to begin, and a Capucin Father, Giuseppe da Ferno, was about to preach his lenten sermons in the Duomo. Under a special inspiration, he proposed as a special way to beg God to spare Milan from total distruction an uninterrupted forty hour adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, exposed with all honours at the Altar of Our Lady of the Tree. The whole population took part to the supplication beginning from the Archbishop. Every hour the Father, kneeling on the right of the Sacrament, wearing a crown of thorns on his head and a noose around his neck, preached a short sermon on the same subject, taken from the Book of Jonas: "Yet forty days and Ninive shall be destroyed". And the same he made in every important church of the city. Finally, the Emperor and the King of France could find an agreement of peace, and the city was save! This powerful means to worship God and beg for His mercy, which had begun in that difficult moment for the city of Milan, begun to spread in all Catholic Countries, and was finally codified by Clemens XI (January 21st, 1705) and warmly recommended to all Catholic parish worldwide... The second Mass pictured below is a Prelatice Mass celebrated in our Indult Chapel of S. Rocco al Gentilino by His Excellency the Right Reverend Monsignor Bernardo Citterio, Auxiliary Bishop of Milan, Rector Emeritus of the Diocesan Seminary of Venegono on the occasion of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1999.

		Solemn Votive Mass (Missa Cantata) in honour of Bl. Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster (1880-1954), Benedictine monk, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan (1929-1954), Patron of Una Voce-Italia. Celebrated on Saturday before the Fifth Sunday of Advent 1999 by the Very Reverend Monsignor Vincenzo Vismara, Archdeacon of the Metropolitan Chapter of Milan, Domestic Prelate of His Holiness, Rector Emeritus of the Minor Diocesan Seminary of Masnago, Count of the Three Valleys .

		The Celebrant the Very Reverend Monsignor Vincenzo Vismara, Archdeacon of the Metropolitan Chapter of Milan, Domestic Prelate of His Holiness, Rector Emeritus of the Minor Diocesan Seminary of Masnago, Count of the Three Valleys , wearing ambrosian-style vestments. The rubine-red color tassel on the birretta is a privilege of the Canons of the Metropolitan Cathedral

		The sermon was preached by the Very Reverend Monsignor Angelo Majo, Archpriest of the Metropolitan Chapter of Milan, Apostolic Protonotary, Count of the Three Valleys. In the back, Mr. Gregory Di Pippo, American student of the "Agostinianum" in Rome, server.

		"Altar of Our Lady of the Tree" ("Altare della Madonna dell'Albero")

		A view of the sanctuary during the chant of the "Antiphona post Evangelium". On the right, the "ambrosian chant" choir (there was a polyphonic one, too) composed by the Very Reverend Monsignors Angelo Amodeo, Master of the Choir of the Minor Metropolitan Chapter and Mario Manzoni, Canon of the Minor Metropolitan Chapter. Canons are wearing golden pectoral crosses with jems, a privilege granted by Pius XI, Milanese Pope. Playing the harmonium, Maestro Emanuele Vianelli, organist of the Cathedral and teacher at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Milan. Servers are Dr. Mauro Fratta, on the left, Nichola DeGrandi on the right, standing in front of the Altar. Mr. Gregory Di Pippo is standing at a side of the Altar.

		A view of the Sanctuary, the Choir, and a small part of the congregation during the Offertory prayers. On the right, a delegation of the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ -better known as "Knights of Poggibonsi", a little town near Siena where their headquarters are - directed by His Excellency Count Marcello Alberto Cristofani della Magione Grand Master of the Order (first on the left in the pew).

		After the Consecration, during the "Unde et memores", the Celebrant opens his arms forming a cross signifying that the Holy Sacrifice has been accomplished by the priest "in persona Christi", while the Choir sings the "Benedictus"

		At the end of the Mass, the celebrant reads the Last Gospel.

		After the Mass, procession to the Altar where Bl. Cardinal Schuster is buried. Just behind the Knights of Poggibonsi, on the left, the Rev. Father Stefano Canonico, diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Trieste. On the right, the Rev Father Alfredo M. Morselli, parish priest of Casette.

		Ambrosian Rite Mass Prelatice Mass celebrated in our Indult Chapel of S. Rocco al Gentilino by His Excellency the Right Reverend Monsignor Bernardo Citterio, Auxiliary Bishop of Milan, Rector Emeritus of the Diocesan Seminary of Venegono on the occasion of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1999.

		Elevation of the Chalice.
		During the second Confiteor before the Communion, while the Second Assistant Chaplain opens the tabernacle, the Bishop kneels at a side of the Altar.

		Holy Communion. The First Assistant, Nichola DeGrandi holds the candle, and the second Assistant (the Very Reverend Father Aldo Locatelli, Provost of San Gottardo al Corso in Milan) holds the paten under the faithful's chin.